Wiretap raps ABS-CBN execs, staff
GSIS VP claims phone call taped without consent
By Marlon Ramos
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 23:28:00 11/24/2008
Filed Under: Crime, Wiretapping, Telecommunications Services, Judiciary (system of justice)
MANILA, Philippines -- A senior official of the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) sued on Monday broadcaster Cheche Lazaro and 18 other ABS CBN personnel, including president Charo Santos-Concio, for alleged violations of the anti-wiretapping law.
Ella Valencerina, GSIS vice president for public relations and communications, went to the Pasay Prosecutor’s Office with her lawyers to file three separate cases for violation of Republic Act 4200, or the Anti-Wiretapping Act, against Lazaro and her co-accused.
In her complaint, she said Lazaro aired the telephone conversation they had last November 11 without her consent.
Valencerina, who arrived at the Pasay Hall of Justice around 3:30 p.m., said Lazaro called her, asking her if the request of her program, Probe, for an interview with GSIS president and general manager Winston Garcia -- which the GSIS earlier turned down -- would be reconsidered.
The interview, she said, was about the controversial premium-based policy of the GSIS.
Velencerina claimed she politely turned down Lazaro’s request, saying cases regarding the agency’s insurance policy were still being heard at the Court of Appeals and the Office of the Ombudsman.
A day after their conversation, Valencerina said she was shocked when she heard and saw part of their conversation being aired during the November 12 episode of Lazaro’s show over ABS CBN.
“I even remember telling her ‘I hope this is not being taped,’” Valencerina told the Philippine Daily Inquirer (parent company of INQUIRER.net).
The episode, she added, was also replayed over the ABS-CBN News Channel (ANC).
Estrella Elamparo, GSIS chief legal counsel, said the Probe episode clearly violated the law.
“It was not an interview at all. It was just a private phone conversation,” Elamparo said.
Aside from Lazaro and Concio, also charged were ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs Division head Maria Ressa, ANC chief operating officer Glenda Gloria, ANC director for current affairs and channel operations David Celdran, and members of the production staff of Probe.
The Inquirer contacted the Probe production office and a segment producer said Lazaro was out of the country as of Monday. The staff added they would like to take a look at the complaint first before issuing a statement.
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